2015 Fantasy Football Outlook for Tennessee Titans Stars
The stars on the Tennessee Titans roster are preaching adjustment and improvement in their 2015 fantasy football outlook. If anything less transpires, Ken Whisenhunt’s second season as head coach might be his last.
The Titans finished 2014 30th in NFL scoring—according to Pro-Football-Reference.com—29th in standard fantasy scoring. It’s an unacceptable result for an offensive-minded coach like Whisenhunt who was hired to rectify the Mike Munchak regime’s offensive failures.
Munchak’s offense never finished below 23rd in NFL scoring (2012)—according to Pro-Football-Reference.com—which was its lowest output since the Houston Oilers moved to Nashville in 1997.
Until now.
Tennessee’s offensive continuity suffered all season as Jake Locker (five), Charlie Whitehurst (five) and Zach Mettenberger (six) shared the starting duties as health and rank permitted. The Titans’ revolving quarterback Tilt-A-Whirl dredged up nightmares of the 2012 rotation in Arizona that cost ultimately Whisenhunt his job.
General manager Ruston Webster enters his fourth offseason at the helm in Tennessee with an intense spotlight shining on his performance.
It’d be understandable if he takes a win-now approach with the No. 2 overall pick as opposed to rebuilding for the future. The latter option would likely be overseen by his successor.
The next few months will be critical as Tennessee’s fantasy stars regroup from a dismal 2014 performance.
Honorable Mention
1 of 10
Jacoby Ford, WR
Tennessee signed Ford in January, according to ESPN.com Titans writer Paul Kuharsky on Twitter.
"#Titans sign WR Jacoby Ford and WR Clyde Gates to futures contracts.
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) January 14, 2015
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The 5’9” speedster flashed in his rookie year (2011) with the Oakland Raiders, but he only saw action in 22 games since, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com.
Kris Durham, WR
Durham is Tennessee’s current WR3—according to Rotoworld—because Derek Hagan and Nate Washington’s contracts will expire in March. The 6’6” Georgia product is a restricted free agent himself, according to Over the Cap.
Durham is just a name on the Titans' roster for fantasy purposes in 2015.
Derek Hagan, WR
The 30-year-old journeyman was looking for work when Tennessee called last season. He’s looking for work again after a pedestrian WR4 performance—19 catches for 254 yards and one touchdown.
That’s not bad after sitting out the 2013 season, but it’s probably the best that can be expected if Hagan returns for 2015.
Jackie Battle, RB
Battle—at 6’2”, 238 pounds—could become the Titans’ goal-line back if the team releases Shonn Greene. Otherwise, he’s irrelevant for fantasy purposes in 2015.
Charlie Whitehurst, QB
Whitehurst posted the best numbers in his career, stepping up for Jake Locker and Zach Mettenberger five times in 2014. The traveling backup managed a conservative 87.4 passer rating throwing for 1,326 yards and seven touchdowns to just two interceptions.
Whitehurst is a serviceable QB2 for NFL purposes but doesn’t deserve any attention in the fantasy world.
Taylor Thompson, TE
Thompson stood poised for a breakout season in 2014 after an “eye-opening training camp,” per Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.
But the 6’6”, 259-pound converted defensive end from Southern Methodist—Go Mustangs!—suffered a knee injury which ended his season on injured reserve.
Thompson’s 2015 fantasy value is purely speculative, especially with Delanie Walker ahead of him on the Titans' depth chart.
Jake Locker, QB
2 of 10
The jury is in on the No. 8 pick in the 2011 NFL draft: bust.
Concerns rained down about Locker’s transition from Washington to the NFL, typified by Shutdown Corner’s Doug Farrar immediately following the 2011 draft.
"Wildly inconsistent as a passer, Locker can go from truly magnificent to hide-your-eyes awful and back again in the same game -- sometimes, in the same series.
Locker telegraphs his reads far too often and will lock on to his first read far too easily. While he has decent functional mobility in the pocket, he's still learning the finer points of being a pocket passer -- he tends to get jumpy when he can't bail out and his decision-making reflects that, as does his accuracy.
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Injuries also contributed to Locker’s downfall. He made just 23 starts after earning QB1 duties over the aging Matt Hasselbeck, now 39, in 2012, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com.
Locker enters 2015 as an unrestricted free agent. He’ll be nothing more than a headset-wearing reclamation project at this point.
He’s 100 percent avoidable in fantasy circles.
Shonn Greene, RB
3 of 10
Tennessee signed Greene away from the New York Jets in 2013 for the most guaranteed money ($4.15 million) and third most average salary ($3.33 million) among running backs, according to Spotrac.
Ruston Webster chose the 5’11”, 233-pound Iowa product to bulk up the Titans running game, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN New York: “He is a nice complement to Chris [Johnson] and an accomplished back in his own right. He is a tough and physical runner who has rushed for 1,000 yards each of the last two years.”
The problem is the 29-year-old produced just 687 yards and six touchdowns combined in two seasons.
His most elusive run in Tennessee came when he dodged the police last October.
Tennessee will save $3.35 million if it cuts ties with Greene this offseason, according to Over the Cap.
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Nate Washington, WR
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Washington enters 2015 as an unrestricted free agent, but Tennessee CEO and president Tommy Smith said the he wants him back, according to John Glennon of The Tennessean.
Washington concurred, per Glennon: “I want to make sure I put myself in the best situation. I'm very hopeful and optimistic of maybe signing back, but it's going to be a long process this offseason.”
The nine-year vet out of Tiffin—Go Dragons!—never truly achieved the WR1 ability expected when Tennessee signed him away from the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009.
Fantasy owners can expect a repeat of Washington’s 2014 performance at best—40 catches for 647 yards and two touchdowns—no matter where he ends up in 2015.
Dexter McCluster, RB
5 of 10
Tennessee committed to the versatile McCluster when it signed him away from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014 on a three-year, $9 million deal, according to Over the Cap. The contract ranked fourth among free-agent running backs in average salary ($3 million) and guaranteed money ($4 million), per Spotrac.
McCluster returned the favor with his second-lowest outcome in total yardage as a pro—328 on 66 touches. The five-year veteran out of Mississippi blamed it on underutilization, according to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.
"I would definitely say I came in with high expectations and wanted to make a difference. The opportunities I had were slim, but I'm going to keep working. It was definitely surprising. You come in with big expectations, hoping to be a big part of something.
If anything it is motivation — motivation for me to work that much harder in the offseason, to come back prepared and come back ready to take on that role when it does happen. I definitely want to be involved more, and it's up to me to go in and make the plays.
"
Ken Whisenhunt agreed (via Wyatt on Twitter):
"Whisenhunt said #Titans need to get Dexter McCluster more involved next season
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) December 29, 2014
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The problem with that statement from a fantasy perspective is the Chiefs did commit more of the offense to McCluster in 2012, and he finished 51st among wide receivers, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com (standard scoring).
In fact, McCluster’s only promise in fantasy is a league host might list him at both running back and wide receiver, expanding his opportunities on a starting lineup. Unfortunately, his track record demonstrates he doesn’t even deserve a spot on the bench.
Bishop Sankey, RB
6 of 10
Tennessee made Sankey the first running back off the board at No. 54 in the 2014 NFL draft. However, the 5’10”, 209-pound runner out of Washington did not realize his lofty investment during a disappointing rookie season.
Sankey finished eighth among rookie running backs and 46th overall in fantasy scoring (64 points), according to ESPN.com.
Pro Football Focus graded Sankey favorably, however, ranking him third among rookies and 23rd overall. His poor pass blocking rated as his largest blight, ranking him 53rd out of 57 running backs who took at least 25 percent of their team’s snaps.
If Tennessee sticks with Mettenberger, Sankey will have to improve as a pass-blocker to maximize opportunities. Mettenberger tends to stick to the pocket, leading to 18 sacks in six starts. Three sacks per game would extrapolate to 48 in a full 16-game season. That would have been third most in 2014.
Sankey’s blocking deficiencies can be masked if Tennessee drafts the mobile Jameis Winston or the dual-threat Marcus Mariota.
His blocking ability is an important fantasy consideration for 2015 because a running back who gets his quarterback killed won’t see the field on passing downs.
Sankey merits a spot on dynasty and standard rosters with flex potential in 2015. But his downside looms larger than the up, especially if the Titans bring in some competition for the RB1 spot.
Justin Hunter, WR
7 of 10
Hunter’s ceiling is hard to gauge given the turmoil at quarterback in his first two seasons. The 2013 second-rounder out of Tennessee ran routes for Jake Locker, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Zach Mettenberger and Charlie Whitehurst.
Route running is more apropos to pass-catching in describing Hunter’s aggravating second season, connecting on just 42.4 percent of passes thrown his way. He ranks last out of 78 receivers who played at least 50 percent of their team’s snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Hunter’s dissatisfying 28-catch, 348-yard, three-touchdown season ended in Week 13 due to a ruptured spleen.
"#Titans plan to place WR Justin Hunter on Injured Reserve, ending his season. Sounds like it will happen 2day. Dealing with lacerated spleen
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) December 2, 2014
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Nate Washington knows what Hunter needs to work on in the offseason in order to reach the next level, according to John Glennon of The Tennessean.
"I’d like to see him just have the aggressiveness in his mind to know he’s better than the guy he’s facing. We know he can run routes. We know he can run past guys and catch the ball. I think it’s just that at times he questions whether or not he can do what he’s capable of.
The talent is there and the physical ability is there. It’s just about getting his mind to the point of expecting what he should be expecting of himself as a premier guy.
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Hunter’s rare combination of size (6’4”, 203 lbs) and speed (4.44 40-yard dash) are intoxicating. He outleaped almost everyone at the 2013 NFL combine in the vertical and broad jump, according to NFL.com.
But fantasy owners should approach Hunter cautiously in 2015, the same as 2014—taken 51st among wide receivers based on ESPN’s average draft position.
Zach Mettenberger, QB
8 of 10
Mettenberger did enough when he got the call six times in his rookie year to warrant QB1 duties in 2015, according to The Tennessean’s Jim Wyatt.
"It's early in the offseason, but the expectation here is the Titans will stick with Mettenberger and pass on the two quarterbacks even if they're both available. I can't envision Whisenhunt scrapping his entire offseason approach to fit Mariota, and I can't see the Titans rolling the dice on Winston, with all the red flags following him to the NFL.
"
If so, Ruston Webster and Ken Whisenhunt could make a controversial splash on offense, adding the likes of Alabama wideout Amari Cooper with the No. 2 pick instead.
Journeyman backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst thinks Mettenberger has the chops, per Wyatt.
"Physically, I think he can do it. Everybody knows his arm talent. He's an accurate passer. And mentally, when he was in there, it didn't really seem like there was a rookie playing. He made some mistakes like everybody does … but the mental part of the game is not too big for him. And he's tough, and he is confident.
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Mettenberger confirmed said confidence, according to Wyatt.
"I think a lot of people didn't really believe that a sixth-round pick could be a starter for an organization his rookie year, but I did a good job of putting the hard work in and showing the coaches enough for them to start me. I think I showed them enough on the field to believe in me and give me another opportunity.
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The key might rest on Webster’s hot seat. The first-time general manager must show improvement on this roster if he expects to retain his job for a fifth season. Drafting a rookie quarterback is not typically conducive to a win-now, job-saving approach.
If Mettenberger keeps the starting gig he won’t warrant much fantasy attention until he improves on his touchdown-to-interception ratio (8-7). His overall passer rating (83.4) would have ranked 24th had he thrown enough passes to qualify, per Pro-Football-Reference.com.
This story will build in a hyperbolic crescendo as draft day nears, but Mettenberger’s 2015 fantasy relevance won’t rate outside of dynasty leagues regardless of what happens on April 30.
Kendall Wright, WR
9 of 10
Wright regressed in 2014 while adjusting to Ken Whisenhunt’s rigid offensive scheme. He said he’s struggling to perform precise route running for the first time in his career, via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com.
"It’s all pretty structured. When Dowell [Loggains] was here he said it looked a different way but I was doing it how I was asked to do it. Now I am asked to do a lot of things a certain way. It kind of changed how I play a little bit, but I mean I have to adjust.
I kind of turned into a mechanical guy, I’m doing a lot of things that I am just not used to doing, not comfortable doing. But I’m adjusting. Whatever I have to do to get the ball or stay on the field and make plays, that’s what I’ll do.
"
Nate Washington acknowledged Wright’s frustrations from a veteran perspective, per Kuharsky.
"There are certain techniques that they may require on your go route here, where [Loggains] just told you to get down the field. It can kind of put a guy in a difficult position when he’s not used to doing those things. If that’s how it made [Wright] feel; mechanical. That’s his opinion.
I will say it does at times put a guy in a box that he’s not used to. He’s not accustomed to, especially when your whole life you’ve been able to play football a certain way. It can be difficult.
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Wright’s downturn came at an inopportune time given his contract situation. The 2012 first-rounder from Baylor will either receive a fifth-year option or enter 2015 in the final year of his rookie contract.
Whisenhunt and Ruston Webster’s decision will be a referendum on whether they believe Wright can improve on 57 catches for 715 yards and six touchdowns over 14 games.
Either way Wright deserves flex consideration for 2015.
Delanie Walker, TE
10 of 10
Walker shone brightest on an otherwise faded Titans offense. The 2013 free agent from the San Francisco 49ers finished ninth in fantasy scoring among tight ends (105), according to ESPN.com.
He graded seventh among his peers—according to Pro Football Focus—with a career-best stat line of 63 catches, 890 yards and four touchdowns, per Pro-Football-Reference.com.
Walker praised Ken Whisenhunt for the opportunity to excel, via Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.
"His main focus is to make the team better. I believe in his style. People say I only believe in his style because they say the offense was built around me, but I don't believe that. He is the type person where if you are making plays for him, he is going to get you the ball.
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The 2015 fantasy outlook for the nine-year veteran out of Central Missouri State—Go Mules!—is favorable thanks to him spending his first seven seasons behind Vernon Davis on the 49ers' depth chart.
Draft Walker confidently as your starting tight end in 2015, regardless of who’s lining up at quarterback.
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